Pakistan has established a new, powerful military position: Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). Field Marshal Asim Munir has been appointed as the first to hold this significant role. This appointment comes with a notable change: the retirement age limit for this position has been removed, allowing for a five-year term with potential for multiple extensions, a departure from previous regulations where the Army Chief retired at 64.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recommendation for Asim Munir to serve concurrently as Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) and the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) has been officially approved. The President’s office confirmed the approval, stating that the appointment is for a period of five years. This consolidation of power places Munir at the helm of all three military branches—Army, Navy, and Air Force. He will also oversee the National Strategic Command, responsible for the nation’s nuclear arsenal and missile systems, making him the paramount military authority.
The creation of the CDF position, enacted through the 27th Amendment to the Constitution, aims to centralize military command. This new role supersedes the previously existing Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), which has now been abolished. The move follows considerable anticipation regarding the extent of authority being transferred to Asim Munir by the current government.
In a related development, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu has also received a two-year service extension, effective from March 19, 2026. The President extended his best wishes to both senior military officials. Field Marshal Munir, already holding the highest military rank, will now lead the combined forces, marking a unique moment in Pakistan’s military history.
